Cushla is passionate about increasing our understanding of the ocean, helping people develop their ability to communicate about the ocean, as well has ensuring people are able to make responsible decisions regarding the ocean and its resources. 

She is an ocean literacy expert with over fifteen years experience working in communications, education and outreach. Her Masters research examined the barriers and solutions to ocean literacy in Irish primary schools. Her research has contributed to the advantages of using a social marketing systems approach to support societal change.  

She is currently the strategic education manager and communications lead for the Explorers Education Programme, which is funded by the Marine Institute, Ireland’s state agency for marine research, technology development and innovation. This programme aims to embed knowledge of our ocean into the primary school curricula. 

Inspiring educators, school teachers and their student’s, she has adopted a collective approach in developing engagement in our ocean, supported by a wide network of stakeholders including marine scientists and experts at the Marine Institute, the Explorers outreach teams around the coast of Ireland, marine experts from third level institutes and industry, as well as key stakeholders in the wider community.